Peter Mandelson (Comment, December 4) is right to put the focus of government on the future as we look to tackle the economic crisis of today. That is why we have called on the government to help manufacturers continue to invest in the low- and zero-carbon technologies that would both stimulate the economy today and deliver on the government's climate change commitments for the future. Public policy does have a role in ensuring markets function properly and it should also have a role in investing in competitiveness and sustainability. Meeting both short- and long-term goals need not be a zero-sum game, we can and should do both. This happens through our commitment to innovation and education to build a highly skilled 21st-century workforce.

Jaguar Land Rover is doing its part by investing £800m to develop these new technologies and talent. Government assistance to further that investment will help to create long-term growth and new jobs. Britain led the world in developing the carbon economy; so too, with the right partnerships, can it lead the world into the non-carbon economy of the future.David SmithChief executive, Jaguar Land Rover

Motor vehicles not only pollute. They also kill and injure large numbers of people; they are a sedentary form of travel which create an unpleasant and dangerous environment for walkers and cyclists, contributing to the obesity epidemic; and they sever communities. Transforming all our vehicles to electricity does nothing to address these issues. We need a modal shift away from cars.Lucy TaussigBournemouth